Podcast Summary: takin' a walk with Chuck Nowlin (WZLX), Hosted by Buzz Knight

Episode Title: Chuck Nowlin: WZLX Morning Radio, Rock Music History & Broadcasting from Emmanuel College
Release Date: December 5, 2025
Recorded Live at: Emmanuel College, Boston, MA

Episode Overview

In this special live edition of the takin' a walk podcast, host Buzz Knight sits down with iconic Boston radio personality Chuck Nowlin. The conversation traverses Nowlin’s multi-decade radio career—from his beginnings in Worcester, breaks in Miami, to his celebrated era at WZLX, and his recent move into Boston’s morning radio spotlight. Along the way, they reflect on Boston’s enduring music scene, memorable celebrity encounters, industry changes, and what it means to truly connect with listeners. The recording takes place before a live audience of students and features a lively Q&A portion.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Chuck Nowlin’s Journey to Radio Stardom

• Early Inspiration & Family Dynamics

  • Nowlin reflects on the impact his father had on his career choices and wishes he could "take a walk" with him to reconcile their past.

    "I lost my dad when I was 25 years old...I'd like to take a walk with him and say it all worked out okay." (05:05, Chuck Nowlin)

  • He studied Economics but was drawn to radio, sneaking peeks at the onsite studio, and ultimately enrolled at Connecticut School of Broadcasting.
  • Early jobs included running religious tapes at a local AM station.

• Radio Career Beginnings

  • First significant role at WAAF in Worcester, later moving to Miami for a position at 97 GTR—only to see the station's format (and his job) abruptly change.
  • In Miami, adopted the on-air name "Chuck Michaels," an experience he describes with comedic chagrin.

    "It's so awful. Chuck Michaels, yeah..." (12:07, Chuck Nowlin)

• Return to Boston & Rise at WZLX

  • After Miami, Nowlin returned to Boston to take on afternoon drive at WZLX, a transition credited to then-consultant John Schomby.

Love of Music and Broadcasting

• First Musical Connection

  • Influenced by his older brother’s record collection and WBZ’s Larry Glick show:

    "He would just tell UFO stories and ghost stories all night...it scared the crap out of me. But it was fascinating." (14:25, Chuck Nowlin)

• The Power of Live Radio

  • Buzz Knight emphasizes Nowlin’s preparedness and connection with listeners:

    “He was always like, spot on in terms of what he knew he was going to say. Prepared. No, very well prepared. Once again, I knew I had someone…tremendous confidence to be able to do the work with the audience and then ultimately...with the advertisers.” (17:17, Buzz Knight)

• ‘Chuck’s Bar and Grill’: Bringing Listeners Together

  • Legendary Friday remote broadcasts from local bars, which made radio interactive and community-centered.

    "We used to do them almost every Friday...it was a lot of fun getting out there and meeting people." (18:03, Chuck Nowlin)

Fast Five: Chuck Nowlin Rapid-Fire Q&A

(19:24–24:05)

• Desert Island Disc: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon
• Most Underrated Classic Rock Band: The Black Crowes

  “Christopher Robinson, great vocalist...he could front any band.” (19:47, Chuck Nowlin)

• Best Concert: Boston Strong at TD Garden post-Marathon bombing

  “That audience...sold out, was so loud and so together...the city came together so much.” (20:20, Chuck Nowlin)

• Vinyl, CD or Streaming:
  • Prefers vinyl for sound richness, explaining generational differences in how music is consumed.
• Plan B Career:
  • Nearly became a postal carrier; quit after repeated dog bites and lack of fulfillment.

Transition to WZLX Morning Drive

(27:21–33:02)

• Why Now for Mornings?
  • Earlier in his career, resisted moving to mornings (despite Buzz Knight’s urging), but after his kids grew up and the pandemic changed station dynamics, the timing felt right.
  • Chemistry with new team members Danielle Murr and Tyler was immediate:

    "It just felt right. It's just this dance that you do with three people talking on the radio...It's a lot of fun. I'm having fun." (28:25–30:37, Chuck Nowlin)

Industry Tales & Celeb Encounters

(33:36–41:15)

• Celebrity Interviews:
  • Jon Stewart: “He was just so spontaneous and really funny. Just off the cuff.” (35:09, Chuck Nowlin)
  • Ed McMahon: A lighthearted brush in Hollywood; McMahon gamely gives a dispirited “Hi-O!”
  • Rock legends: Interviews with Robert Plant (“so humble and nice”) and Jimmy Page (“not nice at all...seemed insulted at everything that I asked him”—plus a spot-on impression).
  • Keith Richards described as warm and humble; would love to interview Mick Jagger but hears he can be "aristocratic.”
  • Comedians: Bill Burr and Dennis Leary praised for being “very funny, very quick”—but notes comedians can struggle on-air without a live audience.

Audience Q&A Highlights

Engaging with Listeners

• Calls are a big part of the show, especially in the mornings. Some callers are “really hammered,” others use colorful language, making the “dump button” essential.

  “I'm shocked in the morning how often I have to use that. Maybe it's because people are pissed off, driving into work.” (43:51, Chuck Nowlin)

Changing Industry Landscape

• Music Industry Evolution

  • From labels doing everything for artists, to the rise of DIY self-promotion.

    “Artists are mainly on their own. They're self-promoting, which has to be so tough...now you’re on Spotify and you get fractions of pennies for a play.” (45:50, Chuck Nowlin)

  • Modern artists must tour and leverage social media for success; classic rock benefits from TV/film placement.

• Targeting Younger Audiences

  "Even though...there's a certain target audience, always go deliberately younger than your target." (50:51, Buzz Knight)

• The Future of Radio

  • Emphasis on streaming (iHeartRadio app), expectation of terrestrial radio’s gradual decline as automakers drop FM.

  “I think eventually terrestrial radio will go away...it will just become a streaming thing." (52:02, Chuck Nowlin)

Career & Podcasting Advice

• Public vs Commercial Radio: Commercial pays more, but public radio is vital in the community despite financial struggles.

• Starting in Media/Podcasting:

  "If you really have a passion for something, just go for it. Give it a shot, because if you don't, you might look back and regret..." (41:42, Chuck Nowlin) “Resilience, passion, consistency...there's something called pod fade...find a niche and have fun with it.” (54:20–55:40, Buzz Knight)

• Radio Listening Habits: Both panelists tune to college (WERS), classic rock (ZLX), news (WBZ), and sports stations.

On Being an Introvert in Broadcasting

• Nowlin describes his on-air persona as a “different person” from his off-air self—a trait he shares with celebrities like Howard Stern and Ozzy Osbourne.

  “When I'm on the radio, I'm a different person...I can get up at the Garden in front of 16,000 people and introduce a band, and it's great. But it's a different feeling. I don't know. It's kind of a switch that you do.” (57:13, Chuck Nowlin)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Early Family Support:

  “We did not have the best relationship...I’d like to take a walk with him and say it all worked out okay.” (05:05, Chuck Nowlin)

• On Real Radio Connection:

  "When you do a radio show, you're in a room by yourself, talking into a piece of metal. You get out there and you meet people...” (18:25, Chuck Nowlin)

• On Career Longevity:

  "For such an insecure business...I've been in the same place for three decades. That's crazy." (32:46, Chuck Nowlin)

Useful Timestamps

• Main interview begins: [02:43]
• Chuck's "walk with anyone" answer: [04:48]
• Early radio breaks/WAAF: [10:05]
• Miami experience & name change: [11:09]
• Arrival at WZLX: [13:15]
• Initial music/radio influences: [14:19]
• Fast Five Q&A: [19:24]
• Boston Strong concert memory: [20:04]
• Return from break, discussion on moving to mornings: [27:21]
• Interview stories: [33:36]
• Q&A session with students: [42:45]–[59:01]
• Chuck on the introvert experience: [57:06]

Closing Thoughts

The live audience contributed insightful questions about adapting to industry upheavals, targeting new listeners, public vs. commercial radio, podcasting, and thriving as an introvert in broadcasting. Both Chuck and Buzz offered practical and inspirational advice, candidly sharing stories of missteps and triumphs. The episode stands as a loving tribute to Boston’s music/radio legacy, the irreplaceable magic of local personalities, and the enduring importance of finding joy—and authenticity—in one’s work.